Image reading device and image data transmission method

ABSTRACT

An image reading device is configure to generate an initial data name of image data to be transmitted to a plurality of designated external devices. The image reading device transmits a list request, to each of the plurality of external devices, to transmit a list of data names regarding image data stored in respective external devices. It is determined whether the initial data name is included in at least one of the lists. The image reading device changes the initial data name to another data name which is included in none of the lists when it is determined that the initial data name is included in at least one of the lists. Otherwise, the image reading device does not change the initial data name. Thereafter, the image reading device transmits the image data to the first external device and the second external device using the data name determined as above.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from JapanesePatent Application No. 2016-251818 filed on Dec. 26, 2016. The entiresubject matter of the application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosures relate to an image reading device and an imagedata transmitting method. More specifically, the present disclosuresrelate to a technique of transmitting image data, which is generated byan image reading device, to external devices.

Related Art

Conventionally, there has been known a technique of reading an image onan original document and generate image data with an image readingdevice capable of communicating with external devices, and transmittingthe generated image data to external devices designated as destinations.

As a conventional technique of transmitting data to an external device(i.e., a destination external device), there has been known a systemincluding a data communication device and server, the data communicationdevice being configured to add a character string and data informationto the data when transmitting the data.

SUMMARY

The conventional technique described above is advantageous since, in adestination external device, previously stored data will not beoverwritten by newly transmitted data since the data names do notoverlap. However, in the conventional technique described above, a casewhere there are plurality of external devices to which the data istransmitted is not considered.

When, for example, image data is transmitted to a plurality of externaldevices (i.e., destinations), if different data names are given forrespective destinations, the same image data has different names inrespective external devices. In such a case, it is inconvenient since,for example, it becomes impossible to check whether the same data isstored in the respective external devices based on the data names.

If the data having a particular name is transmitted to all thedestination external devices, the above problem is resolved. However,the destination external devices respectively may have existing imagedata and names of the image data are different in respective externaldevices. Therefore, a case where the name of the newly transmitted imagedata may overlap the name of the existing image data in some externaldevices, while may not overlap in the other of the external devices. Ifthe name of the image data newly transmitted from an image readingdevice is the same as the name of the existing image data, the existingimage data is replaced with the newly transmitted image data. In orderto avoid such a situation, the image reading device cannot transmit theimage data. As above, when the image data is transmitted from the imagereading device to the plurality of external devices, the name of theimage data should not cause any problems.

In consideration of the above problem, the present disclosures provide atechnique which make it possible that, when a piece of image data istransmitted from the image reading device to a plurality of destinationexternal devices, the name of the image data transmitted to thedestination external devices does not overlap the name of the image dataexisting in respective destination external devices, thereby overwrittenof the image data in the destination external devices being prevented.

According to aspects of the present disclosures, there is provided animage reading device, having an image reader configured to read an imageon an original document and generate image data corresponding to theimage on the original document, a communication interface configured tocommunicate with a first external device and a second external device, astorage, and a controller. When the first external device and the secondexternal device are designated as transmission destinations of the imagedata, the controller is configured to execute a generating process ofcontrolling the image reader to read the image on the original documentand generate the image data, a storing process of storing the image datagenerated in the generating process in the storage with assigning aninitial data name to the image data, a list requesting process ofcontrolling the communication interface to transmit a first listrequest, to the first external device, requesting to transmit a firstlist to the image reading device, the first list being a list of datanames regarding image data stored in the first external device, andtransmit a second list request, to the second external device,requesting to transmit a second list to the image reading device, thesecond list being a list of data names regarding image data stored inthe second external device, to the image reading device, a listreceiving process of controlling the communication interface to: receivethe first list transmitted from the first external device, and receivethe second list transmitted from the second external device, adetermining process of determining whether a data name same as theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage is included inat least one of the first list and the second list, a data name changingprocess of: changing the initial data name of the image data stored inthe storage to another data name different from the initial data nameand included in neither of the first list and the second list when it isdetermined in the determining process that the data name same as theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage is included inat least one of the first list and the second list, and not changing theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage when it isdetermined in the determining process that the data name same as theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage is notincluded in any of the first list and the second list, a transmissionprocess of controlling the communication interface to transmit the imagedata stored in the storage to the first external device and the secondexternal device after execution of the data name changing process.

According to aspects of the disclosures, there is provided an imagereading device, having an image reader configured to read an image on anoriginal document and generate image data corresponding to the originaldocument, a communication interface configured to communicate with aplurality of external devices, a storage, and a controller. When thefirst external device and the second external device are designated astransmission destinations of the image data, the controller isconfigured to execute a storing process of storing the image datagenerated in the generating process in the storage with assigning aninitial data name to the image data, a list requesting process ofcontrolling the communication interface to transmit a list request, toeach of the plurality of external devices, requesting to transmit a listto the image reading device, the list being a list of data namesregarding image data stored in the each of the plurality of externaldevices, a list receiving process of controlling the communicationinterface to receive the list transmitted from each of the plurality ofexternal devices, a determining process of determining whether a dataname same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is included in at least one of the lists respectively receivedfrom the plurality of external devices, a data name changing process ofchanging the initial data name of the image data stored in the storageto another data name different from the initial data name and includedin neither of the lists respectively received from the plurality ofexternal devices when it is determined in the determining process thatthe data name same as the initial data name of the image data stored inthe storage is included in at least one of the lists respectivelyreceived from the plurality of external devices, and not changing theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage when it isdetermined in the determining process that the data name same as theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage is notincluded in any of the lists received from the plurality of externaldevices, a transmission process of controlling the communicationinterface to transmit the image data stored in the storage to each ofthe plurality of the external devices after execution of the data namechanging process.

An image data transmission method of an image reading device having animage reader configured to read an image on an original document andgenerate image data corresponding to the original document, acommunication interface configured to communicate with a first externaldevice and a second external device, and a storage. When the firstexternal device and the second external device are designated astransmission destinations of the image data, the method includes agenerating step of controlling the image reader to read the image on theoriginal and generate the image data, a storing step of storing theimage data generated in the generating step in the storage withassigning an initial data name to the image data, a list requesting stepof controlling the communication interface to transmit a first listrequest, to the first external device, requesting to transmit a firstlist to the image reading device, the first list being a list of datanames regarding image data stored in the first external device, andtransmit a second list request, to the second external device,requesting to transmit a second list to the image reading device, thesecond list being a list of data names regarding image data stored inthe second external device, a list receiving step of controlling thecommunication interface to: receive the first list transmitted from thefirst external device, and receive the second list transmitted from thesecond external device, a determining step of determining whether a dataname same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is included in at least one of the first list and the secondlist, a data name changing step of changing the initial data name of theimage data stored in the storage to another data name different from theinitial data name and included in nether of the first list and thesecond list when it is determined in the determining step that the dataname same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is included in at least one of the first list and the secondlist, and not changing the initial data name of the image data stored inthe storage when it is determined in the determining step that the dataname same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is not included in any of the first list and the second list,and a transmission step of controlling the communication interface totransmit the image data stored in the storage to the first externaldevice and the second external device after execution of the data namechanging step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an MFP according tothe present disclosures.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a data name changing list.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a destination designation screen.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a transmission destination list.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a plural-destination transmissionprocess.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a list obtaining process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an initial data name generatingprocess.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an overlap checking process.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual chart illustrating a data name changingoperation.

FIG. 10 is an example of a data name changing screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, an MFP 100according to an embodiment of the present disclosures will be describedin detail.

The MFP 100 has a controller 30 which includes, as shown in FIG. 1, aCPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33 and an NVRAM 34. The MFP 100 also has animage forming device 10, an image reading device 20 and a network I/F37, an operation panel 40, which are electrically connected to thecontroller 30.

The image forming device 10 is configured to print an image on aprinting sheet. The image forming device 10 may employ anelectrophotographic image forming method or an inkjet printing method.Further, the MFP 100 may be configured to form a color image or only amonochromatic image. Furthermore, the MFP 100 may perform a duplexprinting, or only an simplex printing.

The image reading device 20 is configured to read an image formed on anoriginal. The image reading device 20 may read an image in accordancewith a CCD method, or a CIS method. The MFP 100 according to the presentdisclosure may read a color image, or only a monochromatic image. Theimage reading device 20 is an example of a reader.

The ROM 32 stores control programs to control operations of the MFP 100,various settings and initial values. The RAM 33 is used as a work areain which retrieved control programs are developed, or various pieces ofdata are temporarily stored. The RAM 33 is an example of a storage. TheNVRAM 34 is used to store various pieces of data such as image data,various setting, and user information. For example, the NVRAM 34includes a data name setting method storage 35 storing whether a dataname is to be set automatically or manually.

In the NVRAM 34, a name change list 36 for changing an initial data name(hereinafter, simply referred to as the name change list 36) storingdata name changing methods is stored. As shown in FIG. 2, in the namechange list 36, a plurality of changing methods are registered. Thereason why the plurality of changing methods are registered is, when thedata name is automatically changed, to make a possibility to avoidoverlapping of the data name high with suppressing the changed data namebeing unnecessarily redundant. In order to improve a possibility thatthe overlapping of the data name, each changing method is configuredsuch that relevance with a method of generating an initial data name orother changing methods is low. In the name change list 36, the datanames after changed are registered in a short length order of the name.

The initial data name is created such that, for example, informationcorresponding to the date when the image of an original subject totransmission is read by the image reading device at the end of apredetermined character string “IMG”. It is noted that the “date” doesnot include time information such as hour, minute and/or second. In thename change list 36 shown in FIG. 2, as a first method (i.e., rule No.1), a method of adding information corresponding to “time” at the end ofthe “initial data name” is registered. As a second method (i.e., ruleNo. 2), a method of adding information corresponding to“device-intrinsic information” and information corresponding to “serialnumber” serially at the end of the “initial data name” is registered.Further, in the name change list 36, as a third method (i.e., rule No.3), a method adding information corresponding to “time”, informationcorresponding to “device-intrinsic information” and informationcorresponding to a “serial number” at the end of the “initial data name”in this order is registered.

In the description above (i.e., when the data name is changed), the“time” is a time when the image on the original document subject totransmission has been read. For example, the “time” includes values ofhour, minute and second. The “device-intrinsic information” isinformation identifying the MFP 100, and may be, for example, amanufacturing number of the MFP 100, a machine address of the MFP 100,an e-mail address and the like. The “serial number” is a consecutivelycounted number when the image reading device 20 is controlled to readoriginal documents. It is noted that the generation method of theinitial data is an example of a first generation rule. Further, each ofthe changing methods registered as rules 1-3 in the name change list 36is an example of a second generation rule.

The CPU 31 controls operations of respective components of the MFP 100in accordance with the control programs retrieved from the ROM 32 withstoring results of execution of the control programs in the RAM 33 orNVRAM 34. The CPU 31 is an example of a controller. It is noted that thecontroller 30 may be the controller set forth in the claims. It is notedthat the controller 30 is a collective term including hardware used inthe controlling operations of the MFP 100, and need not correspond to asingle piece of hardware existing in the MFP 100.

The network I/F 37 is hardware used to communicate with an externaldevice connected to a network. A communication method employed in thenetwork I/F 37 may be a wireless or wired method. The network I/F is anexample of a communication interface.

The operation panel 40 is provided with an LCD 41 and a button group.The LCD 41 is an example of a display device. The button group is anexample of an inputting device. The controller 40 displays variouspieces of information such as an operation state and/or a message forthe user on the LCD 41 of the operation panel 40. The LCD 41 may beconfigured as a touch panel through which an input operation can beperformed. In such a case, the MFP 100 may be configured to displayvarious buttons on the LCD 41, and receive instructions based on thetouched position on the touch panel. It is noted that when the LCD 41 isconfigured as the touch panel, the LCD 41 is an example of the inputtingdevice.

The button group 42 includes a power button, an execution button, acancel button and numeral keys. The controller 30 is configured suchthat, when an operation with respect the button group 42 is received,the controller 30 receives a signal which is generated in response to anoperation of the button, thereby receiving an input of an instruction.

According to the embodiment, it is assumed that external devices 1, 2and 3 are connected to the network. Examples of the external devices 1,2 and 3 may include a server, a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone,a printer, and an MFP.

Next, a plural-destination transmission function implemented in the MFP100 will be described. The plural-destination transmission function is afunction of transmitting image data of an image read by the MFP 100 to aplurality of external devices.

For executing a job using the plural-destination transmission function,transmission destinations are stored, in advance, in the MFP 100. Forexample, the transmission destinations may be selected from an addressbook stored in the MFP 100. Alternatively or optionally, thetransmission destinations may be directly input by the user. Furtheroptionally or alternatively, the transmission destinations may be set tothe MFP 100 through a PC.

For example, the MFP 100 may display a destination designation screen 52as shown in FIG. 3 on the LCD 41. On the destination designation screen,a tag 53 and tag 54 are displayed. When the tag 53 is selected, thetransmission destination can be selected from the address book. When thetag 54 is selected, the transmission destinations are directly input bythe user.

When the user selects the tag 53, the address book is displayed on theLCD 41. On the address book displayed on the LCD 41, names of users ofexternal devices subject to selection are indicated. The user maydesignate the transmission destinations by operating the button group 42to select the names of the users. As shown in FIG. 2, the selecteddestinations are indicated by an indication of “selected”. Therefore,the user can confirm whether selection has been made for each name ofthe users.

It is noted that, the MFP 100 creates a telephone book such thattelephone book records are generated with the names of the users,transmission methods and transmission addressed are mutually associated,and stored in a telephone book database. The telephone book database isstored in the NVRAM 34.

In the field of the transmission method, protocols to be used fortransmitting image data to the external devices are registered. Theprotocols used may include an FTP (file transfer protocol), an SMB(server message block), a CIFS (common internet file system), an NFS(network file system), and an HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol). Inaddition to differences of the protocols to be used, even if the sameprotocol is used, the destinations may be different, or even if thedestinations are the same, portions for storing the image data (e.g.,recording media, or recording areas) may be different.

In the field of the destination address (see FIG. 4), information toidentify the external devices is registered. In the field of thedestination address, when, for example, a protocol (e.g., FTP) regardingdata transmission is registered in the field of the transmission method,a profile containing connection information of a connection destinationis registered. When a network (e.g. CIFS) is registered in the field ofthe transmission method, a shared folder address identifying a sharedfolder is registered.

In the field of the log-in name (see FIG. 4), information used to log inthe external devices is registered. In the field of the password,passwords which are required to access storage areas of the externaldevices are registered. That is, in the phonebook data based,authentication information to establish a communication with theexternal devices is stored.

As above, in the MFP 100, when the name is selected in the telephonebook, the transmission method and the transmission address correspondingto the selected external device, a login name and a password can beobtained easily.

On the other hand, for example, when an address which is not registeredin the telephone book is to be designated, the user may select the tag54. Then, an address input screen encouraging the user to manually inputthe transmission method and the transmission address is displayed on theLCD 41. Then, the user may designate the destination by inputting thetransmission method and the destination address by operating the buttongroup 42. As above, the MFP 100 can accept a destination which is notregistered in the telephone book and obtain authentication informationthereof.

When the destination address is received, the MFP 100 creates thetransmission destination list. The MFP 100 generates the transmissiondestination records containing the transmission method, the destinationaddress, the log-in name and the password in accordance with the orderof designation, and registers the record with the transmissiondestination address. For example, it is assumed that, in the telephonebook shown in FIG. 3, if a branch A is designated first, and then thebranch C is designated. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 4, as the firstrecord, the protocol “FTP” which is used in the FTP server A of thebranch A is registered as the transmission method, and “Profiles A” ofthe FTP server A is registered as the destination address. Further, alog-in name “aaa” for the FTP server A is registered in the field of thelog-in name, and a password “111” is registered in the field of thepassword. As the second record, the protocol “CIFS” which is used in theCIFS server A of the branch C is registered as the transmission method,while the shared folder address of the CIFS server A will be registeredas the destination address. Further, a log-in name “bbb” is registeredin the field of the log-in name, and a password “222” is registered inthe field of the password.

When the transmission destination list has been created, the MFP 100controls the image reading device 20 to read an image on an originaldocument and generates image data. Then, the MFP 100 controls the RAM 33to store the thus generated image data. Thereafter, the MFP 100 connectswith the external devices in accordance with the order of thetransmission destination list, and transmits the image data stored inthe RAM 33. That is, the MFP 100 completes transmission of the imagedata to the external device having been registered earlier, andthereafter, the MFP 100 starts transmitting the image data to theexternal device having been registered later.

If the data name of the image data to be transmitted to the externaldevice overlaps one or more of the data names of the image data havingalready been stored in the external devices, the MFP 100 cannot transmitthe image data on the original document to the external devices storingthe image data having the same data name as the image data on theoriginal document to be transmitted from the MFP 100 in order to preventthe image data stored in the external devices overwritten with thetransmitted image data on the original document. If transmission of theimage data to some of the external devices has been successfullycompleted, but transmission to the other external devices has beenfailed, there will be no guarantee that the same image data is remainedin all the destination external devices, and the successfully completeddata transmission becomes useless.

According to the embodiment, the MFP 100 obtains a list of the data nameregarding the image data stored in the external devices beforetransmitting the image data, and determines whether the data name of theimage subject to transmission overlaps one of the data names included inthe lists obtained from the plurality of external devices. When it isdetermined that the data name of the image data subject to transmit isnot included in any of the lists obtained from the plurality of externaldevices, the MFP 100 transmits the image data to the plurality ofexternal devices sequentially without changing the data name thereof. Incontrast, when it is determined that the data name of the image datasubject to transmission is included in one or more of the lists obtainedfrom the plurality of external devices, the MFP 100 transmits the imagedata to the plurality of external devices sequentially, after changingthe data name of the image data subject to transmission.

Next, a plural-destination transmission process executed by the MFP 100will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. Theplural-destination transmission process is executed by the CPU 31 inresponse to receipt of the plural-destination transmission instructionwhich is input through the button group 42.

In the plural-destination transmission process, the CPU 31 firstlyreceives user's selection of the external devices which are thetransmission destinations (S1). The external devices which are thetransmission destination may be designated, for example, through thedestination designation screen 52 displayed on the LCD 41. In this case,the external devices are selected from the telephone book stored in theNVRAM 34 of the MFP 100 and/or manually designated through the buttongroup 42.

Next, the CPU 31 receives a read setting through the button group 42(S2). In the read setting, a condition to read the image on the originaldocument and generate the image data is set. The read setting mayinclude, for example, a setting of data format when the image data isstored in the RAM 33.

Thereafter, when a start instruction is received through the buttongroup (S3: YES), the CPU 31 stores information identifying the externaldevices in the NVRAM 34 as the transmission destinations (S4). That is,the CPU 31 creates the transmission destination list 51 based on theexternal devices designated in S1. Then, the CPU 31 stores thetransmission destination list 51 in the NVRAM 34.

Next, the CPU 31 executes a list obtaining process (S5) to obtain listsof data names of stored image data from the external devices which aredesignated as destination in S1. The list obtaining process will bedescribed in detail later.

Then, the CPU 31 causes the image reading device 20 to read the image onthe original document, and generates the image data (S6). It is notedthat a process in S6 is an example of a generating process. The imagereading device 20 may read images on the original documents conveyed bya not-shown ADF or read an image of an original document which is placedon a platen by the user. At this stage, the CPU 31 controls the RAM 33to store a time (i.e., hour, minute and second) when the image readingdevice 20 read the image on the original document.

Next, the CPU 31 obtains a serial number (S7). The serial number is anumber of pages of the original document counted when the MFP 100controls the image reading device 20 to read the original document.

Then, the CPU 31 executes an initial data name generating process (S8)to generate an initial data name, which is the firstly assigned name toidentify the image data. A method of setting the initial name can beselected between an automatic setting method and a manual settingmethod. The automatic setting method is a method according to which theMFP 100 automatically generates the data name according to a certaingenerating rule. According to the present embodiment, when the automaticsetting method is selected, the CPU 31 automatically generates theinitial data name by adding information corresponding to a date when theCPU 31 controls the image reading device 20 to read the originaldocument to a particular character string “IMG”. The manual settingmethod is a method according to which the user generates the initialdata name by operating the button group 42. For example, when the manualsetting method is selected, the CPU 31 displays a data name settingscreen on the LCD 41 and encourages the user to input the initial dataname. The initial data name generation method will be described later.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 stores the image data in the RAM 33 (S9). Theprocess in S9 is an example of a storing process. That is, the CPU 31controls the RAM 33, for example, to name the image data of the image onthe original document read in S6 the initial data name set in S8, andstores the same.

When, for example, the data format is set to a PDF in S2, the CPU 31stores one piece of image data in the RAM 33 when an image of one sheetof the original document is read, or when images of a plurality oforiginal sheets are read. On the other hand, when, for example, the dataformat is set to the JPEG in S2, the same number, as the number of pagesof original document, of pieces of image data are stored in the RAM 33.

Next, the CPU 31 executes an overlap checking process (S10). In theoverlap checking process, the CPU 31 determines whether the data name ofthe image data subject to transmission overlaps at least one of the datanames of the image data stored in the plurality of external devices.When it is determined that the data name of the image data subject totransmission overlaps at least one of the data names of the image datastored in the plurality of external devices, the CPU 31 changes the nameof the image data subject to submission. Specifically, in the overlapchecking process, firstly the CPU 31 determines whether there is a dataname same as the initial data name generated in S8 is included in thelists obtained from the plurality of external devices in S5. When it isdetermined that the data name same as the initial data name does notexist in the lists, the CPU 31 does not change the initial data name.When it is determined that the data name same as the initial data nameis included in the lists, the CPU 31 changes the initial data name toone different from the initial data name. The overlap checking processwill be described in detail later.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 transmits the image data to the plurality ofexternal devices sequentially (S11). The process of S11 is an example ofa transmission process. The CPU 31 establish a connection with each ofthe external devices in accordance with the order indicated in thetransmission destination list 51, and transmits the image data to eachof the external devices, sequentially.

When transmission of the image data is completed, the CPU 31 controlsthe LCD 41 to display the data name assigned to the transmitted imagedata (S12). Then, the user can visually recognize the data name of theimage data which has been successfully transmitted.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 deletes the image data subject to transmissionfrom the RAM 33 (S13). Then, the image data which has become unnecessaryis removed from the RAM 33, thereby an available capacity of the RAM 33can be secured. After deletion of the image data, the CPU 31 terminatesthe plural-destination transmission process.

Next, referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the list obtainingprocess, which is called in S5 of FIG. 5, will be described. Byexecuting the list obtaining process, the CPU 31 is sequentiallyconnected with the plurality of external devices and obtains the list ofthe data name from the connected external device.

In the list obtaining process, the CPU 31 initializes the order N of theexternal devices representing the order of transmission of the imagedata (S41). Thereafter, the CPU 31 add “1” to the order N (S42).Thereby, counting of the order N of the external devices, to which theimage data is transmitted, is started.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 obtains the authentication information of theN-th transmission destination (S43). The order of the external devicesto which the image data of the original document is to be transmitted isdefined in the transmission destination list store in the RAM 33.Therefore, the CPU 31 retrieves the N-th order transmission destinationrecord from the transmission destination list 51, and extracts thelog-in name and the password registered in the retrieved transmissiondestination record as the authentication information.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 controls the network I/F 37 to attempt logging into the N-th transmission destination external device (S44). That is, theCPU 31 controls the network I/F 37 to transmit the authentication (i.e.,the log-in name and the password) obtained in S23 to the transmissiondestination address registered in the N-th order transmissiondestination record in accordance with the transmission method which isalso registered in the N-th order transmission destination record,thereby the network connection with the N-th order external device beingattempted.

The CPU 31 determines whether logging in to the N-th transmissiondestination has been made. When the is no response from the N-thtransmission destination, the CPU 31 determines that logging in to theN-th transmission destination cannot be done (S45: NO). In this case,the CPU 31 controls the LCD 41 to display an indication of “connectionfailed” to notify that the connection with the N-th transmissiondestination cannot be established (S51). Thus, the user can recognizethe reason why the image data cannot be transmitted is inability toestablish a connection with the external device. Optionally, on thescreen displayed at this stage, information identifying the externaldevice with which the connection cannot be established. According tosuch a configuration, the user can recognized the external device withwhich the connection was failed, and may take optional steps, forexample, of informing an administrator of the external device that theconnection has not be established and ask the administrator to fix aproblem.

After displaying the indication of “connection filed” on the LCD 41, theCPU 31 deletes the image data of the original document stored in the RAM33 (S52). When it is found that the communication with one of thedesignated external device cannot be established, there will be noguarantee that the image data is transmitted to all the designatedexternal devices. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to transmit theimage data of the image read by the image reading device 20 to any otherone of the designated external devices. Accordingly, the CPU 31 theimage data, which becomes unnecessary, from the RAM 33 and secure theavailable capacity of the RAM 33.

When the CPU 31 receives the reply from the N-th transmissiondestination external device, the CPU 31 determines that the log in inthe N-th transmission destination can be done (S45: YES). In this case,the CPU 31 controls the network I/F 37 to transmit, to the N-thtransmission destination external device, a list request requesting alist of data names regarding the image data stored in the N-thtransmission destination external device (S46). The process of S46 is anexample of a list requesting process. Each of the external devices hasthe list regarding the data names of the image data stored in thestorage thereof. In the above process, the CPU 31 request the eachexternal device to transmit the list to the MFP 100. It is noted thatthe list may be created by the CPU 31 side. That is, the CPU 31 mayrequest each external device to transmit the data names regarding theimage data stored therein, and create the list based on the receiveddata names. Further, the list may correspond to each external device, orone list contains the data names of image data stored in all theexternal devices.

When the CPU 31 cannot obtain the list of the data names regarding theimage data stored in the N-th transmission destination external device(S47: NO), the CPU 31 executes steps S51 onwards, to terminate the jobof the plural-destination transmission function. Since each of theprocesses S51 and S52 is described above, description thereof will notbe repeated here.

When the CPU 31 receives the list of the data names regarding the imagedata stored in the N-th transmission destination external devicetherefrom (S47: YES), the CPU 31 stores the received list in the RAM 33(S48). The process of S47 is an example of a list receiving process.Thereafter, the CPU 31 logs off from the N-th transmission destinationexternal device and disconnects the communication therewith (S49). Thecommunication is disconnected so that other devices can make use of theN-th transmission destination external device until transmission of theimage data to the N-th transmission destination external device isexecuted.

Then, the CPU 31 determines whether the CPU 31 has logged in to all thetransmission destinations (S50). When it is determined that the CPU 31has not logged in to all the transmission destinations (S50: NO), thereis one or more external devices from which the list has not yet beenreceived. Therefore, the CPU 31 returns to S42, and attempts to obtainthe list of the data names regarding the image data stored in the nextorder external device. As above, the CPU 31 repeatedly executes stepsS42-S50 to sequentially connect to the plurality of external devices inaccordance with the order registered with the transmission destinationlist 51 and obtains the lists.

When it is determined that the CPU 31 has logged in all the transmissiondestinations (S50: YES), since the lists for all the designated externaldevices have been obtained, the CPU 31 proceeds to S6 (FIG. 5), andgenerates the image data by reading the image on the original document.That is, the CPU 31 reads the image on the original document andgenerates the image data after confirming that communication can beestablished with all the transmission destination external devices whenthe lists are obtained. Accordingly, an external device with whichconnection cannot be made is detected before reading the image on theoriginal document, and it is avoided to unnecessarily execute reading ofthe image on the original document or transmitting the image data.

Next, the initial data name generating process called in S8 (FIG. 5)will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. TheCPU 31 executes the initial data name generating process toautomatically or manually generates the initial data name.

The CPU 31 determines whether the initial data name is generatedautomatically or manually based on the information stored in the dataname setting method storage 35 of the NVRAM 34.

Specifically, when an “automatic setting” is stored in the data namesetting method storage 35 (S61: AUTO), the CPU 31 obtains the date whenthe image reading device 20 reads the original document subject totransmission (S62). Then, the CPU 31 adds the date obtained in S62 tothe particular character string “IMG” to generates the initial data name(S63). Thereafter, the CPU 31 controls the RAM 33 to store the generatedinitial data name (S64).

By contrast, when a “manual setting” is stored in the data name settingmethod storage 35 (S61: MANUAL), the CPU 31 controls the LCD 41 todisplay an initial data name input screen (S65) on which an input fieldof the initial data name is provided. The CPU 31 keeps displaying theinitial data name input screen until the user operates the button group42 to input an arbitrary character string in the initial data name inputfield and depress the enter (confirm) button (S66: NO). When the userinputs the arbitrary character string and depresses the enter (confirm)button (S66: YES), the CPU 31 stores the character string input by theuser in the RAM 33 as the initial data name (S64).

When the initial data name automatically or manually generates is storedin the RAM 33 (S64), the CPU 31 proceeds to S9 (FIG. 5). In S9, the CPU31 assigns the automatically or manually generated initial data name tothe image data, and controls the RAM 33 to store the image data.

Next, an overlap checking process will be described referring to aflowchart shown in FIG. 8. The CPU 31 executes the overlap checkingprocess to determine whether the data name of the image data subject totransmission overlaps one of the data names of the image data stored inthe plurality of destination external devices, and change the data nameof the image data subject to transmission if the name thereof overlapsone of the data names of the image data stored in the destinationexternal devices.

Firstly, the CPU 31 retrieves the initial data name of the image datasubject to transmission from the RAM 33 (S81). At this stage, the CPU 31retrieves the same number of initial data names as the number of piecesof the image data subject to transmission.

The CPU 31 determines whether the retrieved initial data name exists inthe lists obtained from the plurality of external devices (S82). Theprocess in S82 is an example of a determining process. The CPU 31compares the initial data name retrieved in S81 with each of the listsstored in the RAM 33, and determines whether there is a list whichcontains the data name same as the initial data name the CPU 31retrieved in S81.

When the initial data name extracted in S81 does not exist in any of thelists obtained from the external devices (S82: NO), the CPU 31 proceedsto S11, and controls the network OF to transmit the image data of theoriginal document, using the initial data name, to the plurality ofexternal devices. That is, when the data name same as the initial dataname is not included in any of the lists, the CPU 31 transmits the imagedata of the original document to the plurality of external deviceswithout changing the initial data name. It is noted that the CPU 31displays the transmitted image data on the LCD 41 (see S12 of FIG. 5) sothat the user can visually recognize the data name of the transmittedimage data.

In contrast, when the initial data extracted in S81 is included in atleast one of the lists obtained from the external devices (S82: YES),the CPU 31 initializes a changing method by setting a change number P to“0” (S83). Then, the CPU 31 add “1” to the change number P (S84). Then,the CPU 31 starts counting the change number P of the name change list36.

The CPU 31 retrieves the changing method corresponding to the changenumber P from the data name change list 36 of the NVRAM 34 (S85). Forexample, when the change number P is “1”, the CPU 31 retrieves achanging method “initial data name+time” which is associated with thechange number P=1 from the name change list 36.

Then, based on the P-th changing method retrieved from the NVRAM 34, theCPU 31 changes the existing data name stored in the RAM 33 (S86). Theprocess in S86 is an example of the data name changing process. It isnoted that the existing data name is the data name assigned to the imagedata stored in the RAM 33 and subject to transmission. The existing dataname included not only the initial data name but another data name whichis a data name having been changed from the initial data name.

When, for example, the changing method is “initial data name+time”, theCPU 31 adds information corresponding to “time” stored in the RAM 33 atthe end of the initial data “IMG+date” which is set in S63 of FIG. 7,thereby generating another data name “IMG+date+time” which is differentfrom the initial data name. Then, the CPU 31 overwrites the initial dataname stored in the RAM 33 with the thus generated the other data,thereby changing the initial data name to the other data name. Since thedata name before changing is overwritten with the data name afterchanging, the available capacity of the RAM 33 can be secured. Further,since only one data name is retained, a mix-up of the data name can beprevented.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 checks whether the data name after the changedoes exist in any of the lists (S87). That is, the CPU 31 compares thechanged data name with the lists stored in the RAM 33 to check whetherthe data name same as the changed data name exists in any of the lists.

When it is determined that the name same as the changed data name isnote included in any of the lists (S87: NO), the CPU 31 proceeds to S11of FIG. 5, and transmits the image data using the changed data name tothe plurality of external devices. That is, when the data name to beused for the image data subject to transmission overlaps the data nameof the image data registered in one or more of the transmissiondestination external devices, the CPU 31 resolves the overlapped state,and then transmits the image data of the original document to theplurality of external devices. After transmitting the image data, theCPU 31 displays the data names of the image data of the transmittedimage data on the LCD 41 (S12 of FIG. 5), so that the user can recognizethe changed data name.

As shown in FIG. 8, when it is determined that the changed image data isincluded in any of the lists (S87: YES), the CPU 31 determines whetherthe number of changed times of the data name is less than a particularnumber (S88). The reason why the number of changed times is limited isto prevent the data name becoming too long. It is preferable that theparticular number is the same as the number of changing methodsregistered with the name change list 36. According to the aboveconfiguration, the CPU 31 can automatically executes the changingmethods registered in the name change list 36 once in each execution.

When the number of changed times of the data name is less than theparticular number (S88: YES), the CPU 31 returns to S84, and adds “1” tothe change number P. Accordingly, based on the changing methodregistered in association with the next changed number, the CPU 31 canchange the changed data name stored in the RAM 33 is further changed.That is, by repeating S84-S88, the CPU 31 can automatically change thedata name so that the changed data name does not overlap the data nameof the image data stored in the external devices.

When the number of changed times of the data name has reached theparticular number (S88: NO), the CPU 31 controls the LCD 41 to displaythe data name changing screen encouraging the used to input the changeddata name (S89). It is likely that the data name input by the user isshorter than the data name automatically changed by the CPU 31.

When the user depresses the cancel button of the button group 42 (S90:CANCEL), the CPU 31 deletes the image data stored in the RAM 33 in orderto secure the available capacity of the RAM 33 (S91). Thereafter, theCPU 31 terminates the plural-destination transmission process. That is,the CPU 31 terminates the job to transmit the image data to theplurality of external devices.

When the user operates the button group 42, inputs the changed data namethrough the data name change screen, and depresses the enter button, theCPU 31 determines that data name is input (S90: INPUT), and proceeds toS11 of FIG. 5. The CPU 31 transmits the image data to the plurality ofexternal devices using the data name input by the user.

As described above, the MFP 100 according to the embodiment requests thetransmission destination external devices to transmit the listsregarding the image data stored in the respective external devices, andreceives the lists from the respective external devices, therebyobtaining the lists of the data names regarding the image data stored inthe respective external devices. The MFP 100 causes the image readingdevice 20 to read the original document and generate the image data, andstore the image data with assigning the initial data name thereto. TheMFP 100 transmits the image data to the transmission destinationexternal devices on condition that the initial data name of the imagedata subject to transmission does not exist in any of the lists obtainedfrom the respective external devices. According to the aboveconfiguration, when the image data is transmitted, an error oroverwriting due to overlapping of the image data name will not occur,and the MFP 100 can make the image data stored in all the destinationexternal devices with using the same data name Therefore, according tothe MFP 100 configured as above, the image data can be usedconveniently, and further overwriting the image data can be avoided.

A concrete example will be described referring to FIG. 9. For example,it is assumed that a company member A of a head office is supposed totransmit an original document of a document, using the MFP 100, to anFTP server A of a branch A, a CIFS server B of a branch D, and an FTPserver C of a branch E. It is also assumed that the FTP server A, theCIFS server B and the FTP server C respectively store lists A, B and Cof data names regarding the image data stored in the FTP server A, theCIFS server B and the FTP server C, respectively. In the list A, forexample, data names “aaa”, “bbb”, . . . are registered. In the list B,for example, data names “ccc”, “ddd”, . . . are registered. In the listC, for example, data names “eee”, “fff”, . . . are registered.

Firstly, the MFP 100 establishes a communication with the FTP server A,which is designated as a first transmission destination, and request theFTP server A to transmit a list of the data names regarding the imagedata stored in the FTP server A. After receiving the list A from the FTPserver A, the MFP 100 causes the RAM 33 to store the list A. Thereafter,similarly to the above, the MFP 100 obtains the list B from the CIFSserver B which is designated as the second transmission destination, andobtains the list C from the FTP server C which is designated as thethird transmission destination.

After obtaining the lists A, B and C from the FTP server A, the CIFSserver B and the FTP server C, the MFP 100 controls the image readingdevice 20 to read the image on the original document, the MFP 100generates the image data A. The MFP 100 generates, for example, a dataname “IMG1225” based on the particular character string “IMG” and a date“1225 (December 25)” as the initial data name. The MFP 100 stores thegenerated initial data name “IMG1225” in the RAM 33. At this stage, theMFP 100 also stores the time “16:00:35” when the image reading device 20reads the image on the original document in the RAM 33.

Next, the MFP 100 compares the initial data name “IMG1225” with the datanames registered with the lists A, B and C to determine whether a dataname same as the initial data name “IMG1225” is included in any of thelists A, B and C. When it is determined that the data name same as theinitial data name “IMG1215” is not included in any of the lists A, B andC, the MFP 100 transmits the image data A to which the initial data name“IMG1225” is assigned to the FTP server A, the CIFS server B and the FTPserver C.

When it is determined that the data name same as the initial data name“IMG1215” is included in, for example, in the list B, that is, theinitial data name overlaps the data name of the image data stored in theCIFS server B. In such a case, if the image data to which the initialdata name is assigned is transmitted to the CIFS server B, the newlytransmitted data overwrites the image data which was stored in the CIFSserver B. Therefore, in such a case, the MFP 100 change the initial dataname to another data name based on a particular changing method.

For example, the MFP 100 changes the initial data name in accordancewith the order of the change number of the name change list 36 shown inFIG. 2. For the change number 1 of the name change list 36, a changingmethod to add information regarding the time at the end of the initialdata name is registered. Thus, the MFP 100 retrieves the time “16:00:35”at which the image reading device 20 read the image on the originaldocument from the RAM 33. Then, the MFP 1100 adds informationcorresponding to the time “16:00:35” at which the image on the originaldocument was read at the end of the initial data name “IMG1225” togenerate another data name “IMG1225160035”. The MFP 100 overwrites theinitial data name “IMG1225” with the other (i.e., newly generated) dataname “IMG1225160035” as the data name of the image data A.

When it is confirmed that the other data name “IMG1225160035” is notincluded in any of the lists A, B and C, the MFP 100 transmits the imagedata A, using the other (i.e., newly generated) data name“IMG1225160035”, to the FTP server A, the CIFS server B and the FTPserver C.

As described above, the MFP 100 transmits the image data A using thedata name which is different from the data names regarding the imagedata stored in the FTP server A, the CIFS server B and the FTP server C.Therefore, the MFP 100 is capable of avoiding a situation where theimage data A cannot be transmitted to the FTP server A, the CIFS serverB or the FTP server C because the data name of the image data A is thesame as one of the data names stored in the FTP server A, the CIFSserver B or the FTP server C. Further, the MFP 100 stores the image dataA in the FTP server, the CIFS server B and the FTP server C using thesame data name. Therefore, the company staffs of the head office, thebranches A, D and E can identify the image data A referring to the samedata name, thereby operability of the image data A being improved.Further, in the branches A, D and E, a situation that the image datastored in the FTP server A, the CIFS server B and the FTP server C isoverwritten with the image data received from the MFP 100 can beavoided.

Further, the MFP 100 displays the data name which was used when theimage data was successfully transmitted to the FTP server A, the CIFSserver B and the FTP server C on the LCD 41. Therefore, for example,when the company staff A of the head office manually input the initialdata name, and the MFP 100 automatically changed the manually inputinitial data name to another data name in order to avoid overlapping ofthe data name, the company staff A can recognizes the changed data nameby viewing the indication displayed on the LCD 41, the image data A canbe handled conveniently.

It is noted that, even if the initial data name is changed to anotherdata name, there could be a case where the changed data name stillexists in the list A, B or C. For example, a device different from theMFP 100 may transmit image data X is transmitted to the FTP server Ausing the data name “IMG1225160035” which is the same as the changeddata name generated in the MFP 100. In such a case, the changed dataname generated by the MFP 100 exists in the list A.

In such a case, the MFP 100 further changes the other data to anotherdata (hereinafter, referred to as 2nd other data).

For example, when the other data name, which is data name generated bychanging initial data name in accordance with the change number 1 of thename change list 36 shown in FIG. 2 exists in the list A, the MFP 100retrieves the changing method associated with the number two of the namechange list 36. The retrieved changing method is a method to addinformation corresponding to the device-intrinsic information and itsserial number at the end of the initial name. Therefore, the MFP 100obtains the device-intrinsic information and the serial number ofitself. Then, the MFP 100 generates the second other name, which isdifferent from the intimal data name or the other data name, by addingthe device-intrinsic information and the serial number at the end of theinitial data name “IMG1225”. The MFP 100 overwrites the other data name“IMG1225” with the newly generated second other name, and stores thesame as the data name of the image data A in the RAM 33.

Thereafter, the MFP 100 checks whether the second other name is includedin the lists A, B and C. When the data name same as the second otherdata name is not included in the lists A, B and C, the MFP 100 transmitsthe image data A to the FTP server A, the CIFS server B and the FTPserver C using the second other name.

When it is determined that the data name same as the second other nameexists in the list A, B or C, the MFP 100 change the data name accordingto a further changing method. For example, the MFP 100 retrieves thechanging method associated with the number three of the name change list36. The retrieved changing method is a method to add the time “16:00:35”stored in the RAM 33, the device-intrinsic information and its serialnumber at the end of the initial name “IMG1225”, thereby generatingthird other name, which is different from the intimal data name, theother data name, or the second other name. Thereafter, the MFP 100checks whether the third other name is included in the lists A, B and C.When the data name same as the third other data name is not included inthe lists A, B and C, the MFP 100 transmits the image data A to the FTPserver A, the CIFS server B and the FTP server C using the third othername.

As above, the MFP 100 compares the data name which has been changed withthe obtained lists A, B and C. If the data name same as the changed dataname is included in the list A, B or C, the MFP 100 further changes thedata name. That is, the MFP 100 automatically changes the data name.Accordingly, overlapping of the data name can be unfailingly avoided.

It is noted that the automatic changing of the data name is repeated,the data name may become longer and longer since the MFP 10 changes thedata name by combining information the MFP 100 is capable of obtainingor simply listing the obtained pieces of information serially. The long,redundant data name is inconvenient. Therefore, according to theembodiment, there is an upper limit of the number of automatic changesof the data name (see S88).

It is, for example, assumed that the upper limit of the number ofautomatic changes (i.e., the particular number) is “3” which is thenumber of the changing methods registered with the name change list 36shown in FIG. 2. When the number of automatic changes has reached “3”,that is, even though all the registered changing methods have beenexecuted but overlapping of the data name cannot be resolved, the MFP100 displays a data name change screen 61 shown in FIG. 10 on the LCD41. On the data name change screen 61, a message indicating that theimage data cannot be transmitted since the data having the same dataname exists in the transmission destination, and an input field 62 toinput a changed data name is provided. The user is encouraged to inputthe new data name in the input field 62. By relegating the change of thedata name to the user, it may be possible to prevent the data name frombeing redundant.

After the changed data name is input by the user is received through thedata name change screen 61, the MFP 100 transmits, using the changeddata name, the image data A is transmitted to the FTP server A, the CIFSserver B and the FTP server C. If the user does not change the data namethrough the data name change screen 61, the MFP 100 deletes the imagedata A from the RAM 33 and aborts transmission of the image data A. Thetransmission is aborted to avoid a case where the image data A istransmitted with the data name which overlaps at least one of the datanames if the image data stored in the FTP server A, the CIFS server Band the FTP server C, and the existing image having the data name sameas the data name of the image data A is overwritten with the image dataA.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment is only anexemplary embodiment and the aspect of the disclosure should not belimited to the above-described embodiment. Rather, various modificationsand improvements of the above-described embodiment should be includedwithin the aspects of the present disclosures. For example, the MFP 100may be any other device which has an image reading function, and couldbe a scanner.

For example, the CPU 31 may establish communication with all of theplurality of external devices at the same time, transmit the request forthe lists to all of the plurality of external device and receive thesame at the same time.

For example, the number of changes of the data name may be one. That is,the steps of S87-S91 of FIG. 8 may be omitted, and after changing of thedata name from the initial data name to the other data name, the imagedata may be transmitted to the plurality of external devices.Alternatively, the steps S87-S91 may be omitted, the MFP 100 may changethe data name once from the initial data name to the other data name,and (a) the MFP 100 may transmit the image data to the plurality ofexternal devices if the other data name (i.e., the change data name) isnot included in the lists or (b) the MFP 100 may abort transmission ofthe image data to anyone of the plurality of external devices if theother data name (i.e., the change data name) is included in the lists.Further, the number of changes of data name may be two, four or morethan four. Further, the number of changes of data name may be setregardless of the number of changing methods registered with the namechange list 36.

Changing method of the data name may be limited to the automaticchanging method. That is, S89 and S90 of FIG. 8 may be omitted.Alternatively, the changing method of the data name may be limited tothe manual changing method. That is, S83-S86 of FIG. 8 may be omitted,and the CPU 31 may immediately display the data name change screen 61 onthe LCD 41 if there exists the data name same as the initial data namein any of the lists obtained from the plurality of external devices. Itthis case, the CPU 31 may determine whether the data name input by theuser exists in the lists obtained from the plurality of externaldevices, and may encourage the user to input another data name if it isdetermined that the data name previously input by the user exists in thelists obtained from the plurality of external devices.

It is noted that, on the data name change screen 61, the data namedetermined to overlap the existing data name in any of the lists may bedisplayed. With this information, the user may easily input a data nameavoiding overlapping issue.

It is note that S89-S91 in FIG. 8 may be omitted. That is, if thechanged data name still exists in the lists obtained from the pluralityof external devices after the data name has been changed by theparticular number of times (S88: YES), a job to transmit the image datamay be aborted. By setting the upper limit to the number of changes ofthe data name, it is possible to avoid the data name becomingredundantly long and handling of the same becoming inconvenient.

Further, the MFP 100 may omit S12 of FIG. 5. That is, the MFP 100 maynot display the data name of the transmitted image data on the LCD 41after the image data is transmitted.

For example, when the MFP 100 cannot connect with one of the externaldevices when the lists are obtained therefrom, the MFP 100 may omit S52of FIG. 6. That is, the MFP 100 may not delete the image data which wasgenerated by reading the image on the original document. By retainingthe image data of the original document, it becomes possible to omit thereading operation of the original document when transmission of theimage data is re-attempted.

In S11 of FIG. 5, the image data may be transmitted to the plurality ofexternal devices at the same time.

The processes disclosed in the above-described embodiment may beexecuted by hardware such as a single CPU, a plurality of CPU's and/oran ASIC or a combination thereof. Further, the processes disclosed inthe embodiment may be realized by a non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium containing programs to execute such processes, methodsof performing such processes and/or any other suitable modes.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reading device, comprising: an imagereader configured to read an image on an original document and generateimage data corresponding to the image on the original document; acommunication interface configured to communicate with a first externaldevice and a second external device; a storage; and a controller,wherein, when the first external device and the second external deviceare designated as transmission destinations of the image data, thecontroller is configured to: control the image reader to read the imageon the original document and generate the image data; store the imagedata generated in the storage with assigning an initial data name to theimage data; control the communication interface to: transmit a firstlist request, to the first external device, requesting to transmit afirst list to the image reading device, the first list being a list ofdata names regarding image data stored in the first external device;transmit a second list request, to the second external device,requesting to transmit a second list to the image reading device, thesecond list being a list of data names regarding image data stored inthe second external device; receive the first list transmitted from thefirst external device; receive the second list transmitted from thesecond external device; determine whether a data name that is a same asthe initial data name of the image data stored in the storage isincluded in at least one of the first list and the second list; changethe initial data name of the image data stored in the storage to another data name different from the initial data name when it isdetermined that the data name that is the same as the initial data nameof the image data stored in the storage is included in at least one ofthe first list and the second list; determine whether the other dataname of the image data is included in at least one of the first list andthe second list; when it is determined that the other data name isincluded in at least one of the first list and the second list, thecontroller does not transmit the image data with the other data namewhen a condition occurs, when it is determined that the other data nameis not included in any of the first list and the second list, thecontroller controls the communication interface to transmit the imagedata with the other data name to the first external device and thesecond external device, and when it is determined that the initial dataname is not included in any of the first list and the second list, thecontroller does not change the initial data name and controls thecommunication interface to transmit the image data with the initial dataname to the first external device and the second external device.
 2. Theimage reading device according to claim 1, wherein the controllerchanges the initial data name of the image data stored in the storage byadding information regarding a time at which the image data wasgenerated at an end of the initial data name of the image data stored inthe storage when it is determined that the data name that is the same asthe initial data name of the image data stored in the storage isincluded in at least one of the first list and the second list.
 3. Theimage reading device according to claim 1, wherein the controllergenerates the initial data name of the image data in accordance with afirst generation rule, the first generation being a data name generationrule, and wherein the controller changes the initial data name of theimage data to the other data name which is generated in accordance witha second data name generation rule different from the first data namegeneration rule.
 4. The image reading device according to claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to: when it is determinedthat the other name of the image data which has been changed is includedin at least one of the first list and the second list, change the otherdata name of the image data to a second other data name which isdifferent from the other data name; and after the other data name ischanged to the second other data name, control the communicationinterface to transmit the image data stored in the storage to the firstexternal device and the second external device.
 5. The image readingdevice according to claim 4, wherein, when the second other data name ofthe image data is included in at least one of the first list and thesecond list even though a data name of the image data has been changedby a particular number of times, the controller is configured to abortthe job to transmit the image data stored in the storage to the firstand second external devices.
 6. The image reading device according toclaim 4, further comprising an inputting device, wherein, when thesecond other data name of the image data is included in at least one ofthe first list and the second list even though the data name of theimage data has been changed by a particular number of times, thecontroller controls the inputting device to: acquire input of a new dataname; and change the second other data name of the image data stored inthe storage to the new data name input through the inputting device. 7.The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising adisplay device configured to display an image, wherein the controllercontrols the display device to display the data name of the image dataafter transmitting the image data stored in the storage to the first andsecond external device.
 8. An image reading device, comprising: an imagereader configured to read an image on an original document and generateimage data corresponding to the original document; a communicationinterface configured to communicate with a plurality of externaldevices; a storage; and a controller, wherein, when a first externaldevice and a second external device of the plurality of external devicesare designated as transmission destinations of the image data, thecontroller is configured to: store the image data generated in thestorage with assigning an initial data name to the image data; controlthe communication interface to transmit a list request, to each of theplurality of external devices, requesting to transmit a list to theimage reading device, the list being a list of data names regardingimage data stored in the each of the plurality of external devices;control the communication interface to receive the list transmitted fromeach of the plurality of external devices; determine whether a data namethat is a same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is included in at least one of the lists respectively receivedfrom the plurality of external devices; change the initial data name ofthe image data stored in the storage to an other data name differentfrom the initial data name when it is determined that the data name thatis the same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is included in at least one of the lists respectively receivedfrom the plurality of external devices; determine whether the other dataname of the image data is included in at least one of the listsrespectively received from the plurality of external devices; when it isdetermined that the other data name is included in at least one of thelists respectively received from the plurality of external devices, thecontroller does not transmit the image data with the other name, when itis determined that the other data name is not included in any of thelists respectively received from the plurality of external devices, thecontroller controls the communication interface to transmit the imagedata with the other data name to the first external device and thesecond external device, and when it is determined that the initial dataname is not included in any of the lists respectively received from theplurality of external devices, the controller does not change theinitial data name and controls the communication interface to transmitthe image data with the initial data name to the first external deviceand the second external device.
 9. An image data transmission method ofan image reading device having an image reader configured to read animage on an original document and generate image data corresponding tothe original document, a communication interface configured tocommunicate with a first external device and a second external device,and a storage, wherein, when the first external device and the secondexternal device are designated as transmission destinations of the imagedata, the method includes: controlling the image reader to read theimage on the original document and generate the image data; storing theimage data generated in the storage with assigning an initial data nameto the image data; transmitting a first list request, to the firstexternal device, requesting to transmit a first list to the imagereading device, is the first list being a list of data names regardingimage data stored in the first external device; transmitting a secondlist request, to the second external device, requesting to transmit asecond list to the image reading device, the second list being a list ofdata names regarding image data stored in the second external device;receiving the first list transmitted from the first external device;receiving the second list transmitted from the second external device;determining whether a data name that is a same as the initial data nameof the image data stored in the storage is included in at least one ofthe first list and the second list; changing the initial data name ofthe image data stored in the storage to an other data name differentfrom the initial data name when it is determined that the data name thatis the same as the initial data name of the image data stored in thestorage is included in at least one of the first list and the secondlist; determining whether the other data name of the image data isincluded in at least one of the first list and the second list; when itis determined that the other data name is included in at least one ofthe first list and the second list, not transmitting the image data withthe other data name: when it is determined that the other data name isnot included in any of the first list and the second list, controllingthe communication interface to transmit the image data with the otherdata name to the first external device and the second external device;and when it is determined that the initial data name is not included inany of the first list and the second list, not changing the initial dataname of the image data stored in the storage and controlling thecommunication interface to transmit the image data with the initial dataname to the first external device and the second external device.
 10. Animage reading device, comprising: an image reader configured to read animage on an original document and generate image data corresponding tothe image on the original document; a communication interface configuredto communicate with a first external device and a second externaldevice; a storage; and a controller, wherein, when the first externaldevice and the second external device are designated as transmissiondestinations of the image data, the controller is configured to: controlthe image reader to read the image on the original document and generatethe image data; store the generated image data in the storage withassigning an initial data name to the image data; control thecommunication interface to: transmit a first list request, to the firstexternal device, requesting to transmit a first list to the imagereading device, the first list being a list of data names regardingimage data stored in the first external device; transmit a second listrequest, to the second external device, requesting to transmit a secondlist to the image reading device, is the second list being a list ofdata names regarding image data stored in the second external device,;receive the first list transmitted from the first external device; andreceive the second list transmitted from the second external device;determine whether a data name that is a same as the initial data name ofthe image data stored in the storage is included in at least one of thefirst list and the second list; change the initial data name of theimage data stored in the storage to an other data name different fromthe initial data name and included in neither of the first list and thesecond list when it is determined that the data name that is the same asthe initial data name of the image data stored in the storage isincluded in at least one of the first list and the second list; and notchanging the initial data name of the image data stored in the storagewhen it is determined that the data name that is the same as the initialdata name of the image data stored in the storage is not included in anyof the first list and the second list; and control the communicationinterface to transmit the image data stored in the storage to the firstexternal device and the second external device with either the initialdata name or the other data name, wherein, the controller changes theinitial data name of the image data stored in the storage by addinginformation regarding a time at which the image data was generated at anend of the initial data name of the image data stored in the storagewhen it is determined that the data name that is the same as the initialdata name of the image data stored in the storage is included in atleast one of the first list and the second list.